Research to find a natural enemy that suppresses the brown marmorated stinkbug is showing promise, according to Oregon State University entomologists.

Biological control research led by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, in conjunction with several state agriculture departments and state universities, is looking good, said Dr. Nik Wiman, OSU postdoctoral ­entomologist.

USDA is using Oregon quarantine facilities to screen several parasitoid wasps that are being studied across the country under expedited review, Wiman said.

The parasitic wasp Trissolcus japonicus from Asia is a promising candidate, although more study is needed. The wasp lays eggs in the stinkbug’s eggs, which prevent the pest from ­developing.

Researchers must first make sure any newly introduced insect will not have a negative impact on existing environments and ­species. Before any release, the new wasp must be known to be host ­specific, targeting brown ­marmorated stinkbug and not other stinkbug species. Some stinkbug ­species are ­beneficial predators.

Biological control can take years to become established because the ­natural enemy has to increase to large enough ­populations that it can suppress the ­targeted pest.

TJ Mullinax is a digital producer and photojournalist for Good Fruit Grower, coming to the magazine with a newspaper and television broadcast background. Mullinax grew up in the Pacific Northwest and covered communities through the Willamette Valley, Columbia Gorge and Central Washington working more than 10 years as a professional journalist. -- Follow the author: Phone: (509) 853-3519 -- Email